_x000D_Photo: NASA/Erika Blumenfeld & Joseph Aebersold

What cosmic treasure is contained in this NASA container, recently opened after a stellar journey?

This is a precious cargo of dust and rocks collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. These samples were gathered by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which embarked on its grand cosmic adventure on Sept. 8, 2016. After a two-year scenic route to Bennu and a couple of years studying and playing tag with the asteroid, OSIRIS-REx made history on Oct. 20, 2020, by grabbing a piece of the space rock. Fast forward to Sept. 24, 2023, when the spacecraft’s Sample Return Capsule landed back on Earth, specifically in Utah. It wasn’t until Jan. 19, 2024, that NASA’s team managed to open the container, overcoming a pickle jar moment with some stubborn fasteners. Inside, they found an array of asteroid materials that are more than just rocks and dust; they’re a time capsule from the early solar system. This out-of-this-world delivery offers scientists a unique glimpse into the planet’s building blocks and possibly life’s origins.